In the 1960s, the fashion industry offered society diverse trends due to the development of new cultural and social movements. They were created in small youth circles and popularised by the press among haute couture elite designers. One of the leaders of women’s fashion of that period in the UK was Miss Selfridge, a London fashion brand. Learn more at london1.one.
History of the foundation and development
Miss Selfridge was created as a youth fashion department in London’s Selfridges department store in 1966. It was launched by Charles Clore, the owner of Selfridges and Lewis’s stores, throughout the UK. By 1969, the new brand had many locations in department stores all around the country as well as several independent branches.
The first Miss Selfridge mannequins were based on the image of British model Lesley Lawson. Its first disposable dresses were made of paper by British designers Sylvia Ayton and Zandra Rhodes. Later, French couturier Pierre Cardin introduced changes to the store’s product range, developing four exclusive collections. In 1970, the company became the first clothing retailer to advertise on London buses. It was also the first to combine selling clothes and cosmetics Kiss & Make Up in 1978.
In 1999, the Miss Selfridge fashion brand was subordinated to the Arcadia Group retail company, which also owned Wallis, Outfit, Topshop, British Home Stores, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Burton and Topman. In 2002, British businessman Philip Green became the company’s chairman, launching an online store for a teenage clothing line. In 2005, Miss Selfridge launched a new capsule collection featuring whimsical elegance in collaboration with London fashion designer Bella Freud.
In 2006, the fashion brand celebrated its 40th anniversary by sponsoring a fashion exhibition at the large Victoria and Albert Museum in London. 2008 turned out to be the brand’s most successful period, as it continued to open new stores on the high street. In 2010, the company worked with costume designer Eric Daman to create the Gossip Girl Collection, consisting of eight dresses based on the main characters of the series of the same name.
In 2021, Arcadia Group entered “exclusive” talks with ASOS, which wanted to acquire Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and HIIT. Due to the brands’ inconsistent profitability, the company agreed to a deal for £265 million plus an additional £65 million for current and pre-ordered stock. ASOS’s deal terms included keeping 300 employees without keeping the brand’s 70 stores. However, Miss Selfridge’s range of products was relaunched online on 1 February 2021.
Drapers
Miss Selfridge’s recognition and significance to the UK fashion industry
Miss Selfridge has played a key role in creating British coquettish and modern women’s style. It was one of the first retailers to employ such future successful models and actresses as Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Yasmin Le Bon, Tess Daly, Saffron Burrows and Nicollette Sheridan. The company has also expanded its services globally to the US, Ireland, Germany, Georgia, Israel, Indonesia, Turkey, Australia and other countries.
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